The Palm Coast Community Center is about to undergo a make-over, with a planned building or wing attachment that would be leased to the Palm Coast Bridge Club. (c FlaglerLive)

Since 2011, the Palm Coast Duplicate Bridge Club and city government have been working on a plan that would provide a permanent home for growing bridge club, either as an attached wing to the Community Center on Palm Coast Parkway, or as a stand-alone building adjacent to the center.

The non-profit bridge club has some 300 members, 60 to 80 of whom play up to six times a week at the nearby Lutheran Church, when the church’s own activities don’t cancel bridge meetings and classes. But the club is outgrowing the church facility. “It’s been one of the main problems about bridge in Palm Coast,” says Club Manager Patrick Heading. “You need a good place to play and a permanent place, and this is what we’re working for.”

The club is prepared to write a check for $250,000 to the city. In exchange, the city would build the structure and sign a use agreement that would give the club first dibs on the facility, which club officials foresee being around 3,000 to 3,500 square feet. The club would pay a monthly fee for usage as well. At all other times, the structure would be available for use by the city.

Netts described it as a “public-private partnership: it’s providing something for the city using private funds. To me it’s win-win.”

Not to a few others.

Residents who have been questioning the city’s use of the community center plan to make an appearance before the Palm Coast City Council this evening—the council meets at 6:30 p.m.—to question the way the city administration has been developing plans for community center expansion, especially with regards to the Bridge Club’s future facility.

The group is led by Dennis McDonald, who’s also taken the city to task over its road construction plans along Palm Coast Parkway and its ongoing standoff with Supervisor of Elections Kim Weeks over use of the community center for early voting. Among the group’s principal concerns: the council’s and administration’s behind-the-scenes dealing over a public property that whose future group says should be discussed publicly.

McDonald, whose carpet-bombing approach can at times look for conspiracies where there are none, sees the city’s plan as a way to eliminate the community center grounds as a potential location for a city hall in the future, though the area’s lack of parking would virtually eliminate it as a contender for such a location. McDonald and his followers—most affiliated with the local tea party—are particularly critical about the lack of transparency of the deal in the works.

Bridge club officials are apolitical: they’re about playing bridge and providing their members, most of whom are older and seeking regular intellectual stimulation, a regular, dependable outlet. Heading and Joel Atwood, who’s headed the building committee for the club, weren’t even aware of any opposition to the plans, let alone of this evening’s orchestrated protest before the council.

While the bridge club clearly appears to be an innocent party to whatever questions the residents plan to raise, it’s just as clear that the city has gone quite a distance in developing plans for the community center without public discussion, thus at least creating the impression that it’s operating in the shadows—even if its intentions are pure, and its goal laudable. (Contrary to McDonald’s claims, nothing stops the city from accepting a partnership with an organization to build a structure and lease use of it.)

Atwood first met with city officials in September 2010 and sought another meeting in April 2011 to propose building a facility on city land. On June 18, 2012, Atwood wrote the city’s parks and recreation director: “We would like to make a proposal to you and Mr. Landon about expanding the Community Center to house the bridge club. The expansion would not cost the city anything – all money would be provided by the bridge club. The city would own and be able to use the space except for when the bridge games are being played: Monday- Friday from 1 to 4:30, Saturday morning at 10 until 2. Average headcount per day is 40 – 60. We have a blueprint of the proposed expansion.”

Atwood has since met with Jim Landon, the city manager, with Mayor Jon Netts and each of the city council members (with the exception of David Ferguson, appointed to replace Frank Meeker when Meeker was elected to the county commission), and has been in regular contact with Landon, who’s been engaged in developing the plans. Atwood notes that the idea is modeled after the Daytona Beach bridge club, which has its own usage agreement with the city of Daytona Beach.

“Everybody was on board, they thought it was a win-win,” Atwood said. “To me I can’t see how the city can be harmed in any way.”

“We’re the only group that came to them and said look, we’ve got some cash, we can built a building and give it to you. And they said really?”

A tentative schedule for the project, which is part of a master plan for the community center complex, was produced in June. It included a June 4 project status meeting with Bridge Club members, a July 19 date for the city’s draft agreement for leasing the space to the Bridge Club, with that agreement finalized by Aug. 30 and discussion of the agreement at a City Council workshop on Sept. 24. Construction would begin in September 2014.

But Virginia Smith, the city clerk, cautioned that the timeline was very tentative, and that it was currently quite a bit behind schedule. Atwood said there’s been no agreement drafted yet. And of course the council hasn’t discussed the matter openly at a meeting.

“I don’t know that it wasn’t, I don’t know that it was,” Netts said. Asked when the matter would be discussed more openly, the mayor said: “At the point that you’d be anticipating signing some sort of an agreement. There’s nothing that’s been formalized yet, there’s no agreement, there’s no terms. What we’ve had is this conceptual form of notion.”

The model appears to be one Jim Landon, the manager, favors most: work out all issues and agreements behind closed doors, appraising council members one on one and getting their consent along the way, then producing the nearly finished product for open discussion at a council workshop, though by then the discussion would be more of a formality. An example of that approach was the deal the city carried out with New Jersey-based Player Development Academy, leasing it 65 acres for 25 years, just west of U.S. 1 (not far from the Indian Trails Sports Complex), for $10,000 a year—or for free, if the academy brings at least two tournaments a year to the city. By the time Landon unveiled the deal in April, it was done.

In December, Atwood wrote Landon that the club had built up $205,000 in pledges and $45,000 in its building fund. Those figures have grown since. “We are ready to proceed whenever you are,” Atwood wrote the manager. “We are having a Christmas Party luncheon on Wednesday Dec 19 – both you and Luanne are invited.” Luanne Santangelo is the city’s parks and recreation director, whose office is at the community center.

“Joel, sounds good,” Landon wrote back. “I met with our design team two weeks ago to kick off the site plan design and other details we need to complete to make this project happen. As soon as we have preliminary concepts we will get with you to coordinate the details.”

Landon and Atwood and his committee had a substantive meeting in June at which Carl Cote, the city’s building manager, was requested to produce a project plan for the upcoming budget year and the club requested the timeline for the usage agreement, the architecture and construction plans, and the development of the proposal that would be presented to the council for approval.

McDonald and his group of supporters are seizing on the irony of the city manager clearly accommodating a non-profit–but a non-governmental–organization with what would be a luxurious facility at the community center, all the while putting up obstacles in the way of Supervisor of Elections Weeks and her governmental plan to make the community center an early voting location in 2014 and 2016. (Weeks, who wanted to be on tonight’s meeting agenda, was herself making an issue of those obstacles in an email to the city clerk today, when it became apparent that she was not given a spot on the agenda: ” It is not acceptable that I cannot be placed on the Agenda without Mr. Landon’s approval,” she wrote Virginia Smith “and it is apparent he has his own agenda as he scheduled these voting matters for future workshop and council meeting without verifying my availability.”)

The timeline for the bridge club building is behind schedule, but the overall plan is moving forward.

“They’ve narrowed it down to two design firms, so once they come up with a design firm we can come up with a usage agreement,” Atwood said on Tuesday. “We’re not asking for handout here. We’re putting the money up. I think that’s wonderful thing. I think the historical society may be doing something there too.”

Heading, the club manager, said the plans currently being discussed would entail a separate wing addition to the community center, “on the north edge that would parallel the westbound leg of the Palm Coast Parkway, something kind of a little bit to the side and out of the way. We will not interfered with city activities or other activities. We’d have separate entries and drop off areas and things of this sort.”

The bridge club has been around for about five years. Its older membership means that individuals die from time to time—and leave the club money in their will. In one case, a beloved member’s death resulted in other members donating $10,000 in her name, for the building fund.

The community center is sitting empty nearly 6 days a week. It serves as council chambers and a meeting room for a few others. It’s not nearly as busy as it was back in the mid-2000s yet they’re going to expand it now for one group? Unbelievable.

Not a bridge player, but I love the concept as described. Good for them.

And the Supervisor of Elections says not being on the agenda is “not acceptable”… Interesting. I wonder if she’ll go and accept 3 minutes of public comment. That woman is a terror. I’ve heard from a former classmate that she was just as bad in high school.

Also, Dennis Quixote, er McDonald ought to be pleased. If his organization adds a few bucks to the Bridge Club’s money, they could have a really nice Tea Room in the hours that bridge isn’t being played.

Lots of good stuff for discussion in this article, Flagler Live. Thanks. :)

She gave an excellent presentation tonight. You should have been there. She is an elected official, responsible to the State Attorney General. She should be on the agenda anytime she requests it.

Tonight, Councilman McGuire requested that she be added to the agenda and she was, along with public discussion of the issue. The Mayor agreed to schedule a meeting agreeable to her schedule. The public comments were supportive of her.

This building is designated as a government center to be used by the citizens of this community. Once again Landon plays fast and loose with the truth. According to this statement tonight, these negotiations have only been going on for the past year, yet you say since 2011, Flagler Live.

Citizens of this community should have the right to make decisions like this, not the City. We are the ones paying the bills.

The City has kept the city in the dark without properly informing us citizens, and that is just wrong. Who knows if some other group would have a better offer, and because this is kept private no one else can get in on a sweet deal.

There are lots of services the people in this city would love to see offered. Catering to one entity without general consensus is outrageous and against the Sunshine laws. What happens when the bridge club dies off? Who pays for this then?

Have them build their own club, on their own land, with their own money. This community center was meant to be a shared amenity for us all, not just a select group of people.

Our City Manager and Council plays fast and loose with taxpayer money and then leaves us stuck with the damage. We are rapidly tiring of it. There need to be some changes in our local government.

Bridge club members are parked all over ST. Marks Lutheran, which has more parking than the community center., and, doesn’t the community center parking lot also serve as one of the trail heads? So even if the community center is underutilized (perhaps because the City charges for its use), where do the people who garden, play basketball, or take the kids to the playground now go?

Landon would love to get City Council meetings out of there so he and Netts are one step closer to building City Hall – elsewhere. Bravo, Chiumento.

Because the Community Center is so underutilized then it should be no problem to offer it to the Supervisor of Elections for the times she needs it for us to vote. I think this is just a way of Landon flexing his mussel and the Councilmen don’t have the man in them to stand up to him. Letting us vote at this location during early voting would bring in far more people than any function(s) or meetings they could schedule.

First it was Tennis Center for a few hundred people, then it was a Golf Course for a few hundred more. Now it’s a seperate building for a Bridge Club?. The common demoninator is that all these “things” for special groups lose money and are a drag on city resourses. If it’s such a great idea why doesn’t thye city simply install another “double wide trailer” like the one at the golf course, that’s work out wondefully if you have a courage to walk in and look at that city brain fart.

Big difference between the tennis/golf debacle and the bridge club, they’re putting up the money. The Golf/tennis folks just wanted us to pay for it.

I’d be cautious though if I were the bridge club… do you really want to get in bed with these people? Surely for kind of money you’re talking you could lease out one of the many vacant plazas in town and not be at the whims of council.

The Bridge club has raised $250,000 on it’s own and intends to pay for the building, as well as pay a monthly fee to the city and also let others use it when the Bridge Club isn’t. What’s wrong with that?

They are not asking us taxpayers to pay for it and, even though the Bridge Club has first dibs, as well they should if they are paying for it, it will be available to others for different things.

Actually, I give them a lot of credit for raising their own money rather than go begging for it like the Tennis club fiasco.

Taxpayer money is NOT going to be spent . The Bridge Club is putting up their OWN money for the use of the building which can be used for other things when not in use by the Bridge Club. There is still facilities on the same land that is for the most part standing empty . We are NOT a Private Club and anyone is more than welcome to learn the game and join in the fun that we have for almost pennies compared to what other activities cost .

@Will to your dismay our people’s elected Constitutional Officer SOE Mrs Weeks was item 2 in the agenda this evening! If fighting for the voters require an SOE to inflict terror in some “Be It” and Kudos to our SOE!
She was presented with the respect she deserves and actually they mutually deserve with our City Council. I think in today’s meeting Councilman Ferguson won my vote as a incumbent in 2014.

For the Palm Coast YMCA, there aren’t enough days in the month, nor hours in the day to provide time for all its activities. The YMCA has a variety of programs for the area residents from oil painting to weight lifting.
A typical Monday morning at the YMCA begins at nine when the three and four year olds arrive for preschool classes. In another section of the YMCA building Jarly Jackson, a 70 year old former acrobat, is teaching exercise class. After a lunch break, it is “children’s fun time.” During this time there are also weight lifting classes in the next room taught by Tim Shanahan.
From 4-5 p.m. there is after school play hour for the school age children.
After dinner activities begin again with square dancing at 6:30. The evening ends with a youth rap session from 7:30 until 9 for the teenagers, and German lessons taught in the next room by Anne Russell.
All day people are in and out of the YMCA building, coming also to watch television, play billiards or ping pong. Also, many organizations hold their meetings in the large multi-purpose room of the Y. In other words, the YMCA has been going non-stop since its doors opened on December 11th.
The YMCA has various special events planned for the furure. One event will be a disco dance for teenagers. Plans are also underway for a spring softball team.
There are currently 352 YMCA members and the number is growing. Family memberships are $50. a year, husband and wife memberships $40 a year, single adult memberships are $25. yearly, and youth memberships are $10. Membership at the Y entitles the member the use of the facilities as well as free participation in the many classes and activities held there. Non-member must pay a fee.
*This marks the first time in the YMCA’s more than 130 years of operation that it has opened a YMCA in a developing community. According to Dr. Robert Harlan, Executive Director of the National Board of the YMCA, it is customary to open a Y in an already developed community of about 50,000 but “so far the experiment appears to be a big success.”
The beautiful YMCA—–> building grounds <——-on Palm Coast Parkway were donated by the ITT Community Development Corporation, which is also underwriting the expenses of the Y: for the next several years.
So if you're loking for something to do, stop by the YM:CA and discover the many interesting programs it has to offer. You can see for yourself why it's a big success.

Excerpt from: 'The Palm Coaster', published by the Corporate Communications Department of ITT Community Development Corporation for Palm Coast property owners, purchasers and homeowners, as well as their families and friends. Vol 7, Number 2, Summer 1978, p. 8.

*(Historical Significance: This marks the first time in the YMCA's more than 130 years of operation that it has opened a YMCA in a developing community. According to Dr. Robert Harlan, Executive Director of the National Board of the YMCA, it is customary to open a Y in an already developed community of about 50,000 but "so far the experiment appears to be a big success." )

The United States of America Federal Trade Commissions’ ‘ Consent Agreement’ C-2854 Federally ordering REDRESS for us: encumberances on the land and the buildings.
Here is a synopsis of the ‘Agreement”:

August 1976
Mr. and Mrs. George E. Chuddy
28 Lake Drive
Darien,Connecticut 006820
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Chuddy:
Because you have made a commitment in Palm Coast by establishing your home here, we believe you should be aware of an agreement that we recently reached with the Federal Trade Commission.
ITT Community Development Corporation ( ICDC) has signed a Consent Agreement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) concerning the furture development of Palm Coast. Signing the agreement does not constitute an admission that any law has been violated, as the agreement itself states. We feel the agreement is important in order to attain our primary goal — the development of Palm Coast as a balanced, well-rounded community.
An important part of the Consent Agreement calls for the execution of plans, within six years, which we believe, in the long run, will be good for Palm Coast. In brief, among other things , we have agreed to the following:
1. A shopping center with at least 400,000 square feet of floor space will be provided.We are already in contact with prospective developers of individual stores, including a supermarket.
2. With appropriate governmental agreement, a traffic interchange on Interstate Highway 95 will be constructed to serve Palm Coast according to plans we submitted to the Florida Department of Transportation in August 1972. ICDC will pay for the interchange as originally designed.
3. An office and research park area will be developed with appropriate roads and utilities to serve it and landscaping to make it an attractive part of Palm Coast. Planning for this already is under way.
4. A multi-purpose office building, with at least 5,000 square feet of floor space, will be constructed for tenants in the office and reserch park. This structure, also, is under planning.
5. We will move the headquarters of ICDC to Palm Coast. We plan to be substantial employer contributing much to the economy of Palm Coast and Flagler County.
The agreement also provides for us to restrict our developoment efforts to 42,000 acres for a period of 15 years ( with possible extension for another five years). This will allow appropriate construction in areas set aside for commercial establishments, light industry, recreation, preservation and conservation and other residential uses. Moreover, during this 15- or 20-year period, sales will be limited to 48,000 registered lots of which over 36,000 already have been sold.
The aforementioned are some of the most important points contained in the Consent Agreement as it affect you and the balanced development of Palm Coast. You will also be interested in knonwing of additional projects that we believe further enhance the community.. Here are some examples:

We have donated two acres of land, adjoining the furture Emergency Services Building site, to the Palm Coast branch of the YMCA to be used as the location of a Community Activities Center. We will bear the cost of constructing this facility for all community residents

and for sharing in operational expenses during its first three years — a gift totalling more than $400,000.
We have provided as a gift a site of 57 acres to the Flagler County School Board for a junior-senior high school. The first class of proud seniors was graduated from Flagler-Palm Coast High School last spring.
We have designated a number of sites for recreation parks, preservation and conservation, and other public areas. One site, in Section 1-A, now is being developed and a paved bicycle path has been constructed. Another bike path, starting near the Yacht Club, is in use. We are working with the Palm Coast Civic Association so that Palm Coast residents can form a legal entity to which we can donate oa one-acre site and an Emergency Services Building to house fire and security forces, an ambulance, and facilities for community activities. A preliminary blueprint fo the structure has been approved by a committeee from the Community.
As you know, we donated a $36,000 pumper fire truck to the Palm Coast Volunteer Fire Department , which will be stationed in the Emergency Services Building..
Palm Coast’s first church building, St. Mark by the Sea Lutheran Church, ws dedicated on the morning of July 4. Catholic and Baptist church organizations have purchased sites for their proposed churches. And Temple Beth Shalom is considering building a Synagogue. We at ICDC are very pleased, as we know citizens of Palm Coast are, to witness this growth and progress in the vitally important religioius life of our community.
Palm Coast’s first financial institution, a branch of the Security First Federal Savings and Loan Association, recently opened for business. We believe others will follow with the growth of the community.
These and many other facilitites will be needed to serve Palm Coast’s growing population. And it is growing. During the last nine months, construction of over 200 homes began. We now have over 1,000 people living and enjoying the good life at Palm Coast.
In closing, let me assure you that the ITT Community Development Corporation believes very strongly in the furture of Palm Coast and that we are determined that it will grow and progress in a balanced and healthy manner.
Sincerely yours,
Alan Smolen
President.

Now Dennis McDonald and his group are just being silly. The City could name a holiday with a monument after Dennis McDonald and his group and they would have issue with it because the issue they have is with the City Council Members except for one. Now they support and want to defend the lunatic rantings and wailings of Kimberle Weeks? Dennis and his group actively backed the opponent to her in November calling stunts like she is pulling now the reason she needed to go. We get that this group (and that Tea one) want to be taken seriously. So start acting seriously and stop arguing every little thing with half-truths and silly arguments. Personally, I think Dennis is a great guy and a very smart person. He lost in the primaries because of stuff like this and poor performance at forums. This type of branding is not going to fair well when he decides to run for City Council.

As for the expansion . . . great deal. The group is kicking quite a bit of money for community activity that the community at large will benefit from. Maybe it will be a room Kimberle Weeks can whine about wanting in future years. At which time I think the Bridge Club should charge her. Great job to the Bridge Club and great job to the City.

As the proposal calls for the bridge club to pay for the building to be built, and calls for the bridge club to lease the space for their meetings: “Monday- Friday from 1 to 4:30, Saturday morning at 10 until 2,” I fail to see any problems for this proposal.

” The expansion would not cost the city anything – all money would be provided by the bridge club. The city would own and be able to use the space except for when the bridge games are being played.

I would encourage other clubs to do the same thing, not bitch and moan about one club being shown favoritism.

Where is the downside to this? Some Palm Coast people actually using the Community Center?

The primary downside to this special accommodation is as follows: the community center acreage(approximately four acres) is a very desirable and valuable parcel with an estimated value of $1.5-2.0 million dollars. Yet, in the future, a new city hall will be built and the council may decide that the present community center is obsolete and recommend selling it. The Bridge Club building and special arrangements will be an impediment to the sale of the property. This property will undoubtedly increase dramatically in value in years to come. Are the citizens of Palm Coast ready to accept the loss of possibly millions of dollars for the Bridge Club? Remember the Golf and Tennis Clubs!

Not only would the Bridge Club extension not cost the city anything, it adds to the appeal of Palm Coast.
Bridge is probably second to golf (and maybe even ahead of golf) in terms of participation in Florida. A community with an active Bridge Club is very attractive to potential new residents, and also brings in visitors from other parts of the State and country at least twice a year when major tournaments are hosted by the club. A win, win for everyone.

What ever happened to the plans to use the Community Center, as a gathering for the Palm Coast Teen’s to hang out on Friday and Saturday nights to play music, have dances, and keep them off the streets. Another shot down to the city youth’s so a bunch of old fogies can sip hot tea and play Bridge.Such a yawn.This city hates the youth.

When are the elected officials of this city going to wake up and put a stop to the madness directed by this city manager? It’s about time someone gets him line, or throws him out. Is sneaky business in his contract and a requirement for his job? I hold the council members and mayor accountable for allowing back door deals as this, how about you? For what Landon has been paid we could have already a city hall.

The bridge club extension on the Community Center (to be paid for by the bridge club) can only be a plus for the City. In Florida, bridge is probably the most popular pastime next to golf. A successful bridge club facility can only add to the attractiveness of the area for potential new residents, and also brings visitors to the city from other areas of Florida and the country during the tournaments held at least twice annually.
All in all, a win win situation.
Sylvia Diane Caviggia

D ear Ms. Caviggia: Obviously, there are many scenarios that may apply relative to the future usage of the community center acreage(sale, transformation into a beautiful park for the people,etc). This will be determined by future city councils. Why should we the people be encumbered from doing what suits us best due to a private club? We have heard the tune you are singing many times. Build your building on your parcel and control your own fate. Respectfully.

I didn’t know they had all this land there. Which brings up the question, Why can’t they build the city hall there? They don’t have to have all the public works equipment there. It could be stored elsewhere. All they really need are the offices and there would be plenty of room for such a building. I have a feeling that the real reason behind building a place for the bridge club is to take the land in question off the table for a city hall, thereby forcing the city hall to “Town Center”. We all know the community center is already in the center of the city activity and the city hall belongs right there, not out in the middle of nowhere.

Seems as though the only people here who can get hurt financially is the Bridge Club, they fork over the money but yet own nothing. They are allowed to have first call on the addition schedule, but they have no ownership it is still a city facility. People in general will fight any proposal just to fight, I swear there are people who will find a fifty dollar bill in the street and be happy for a minute, then they gat upset they did not find a hundred, I do not play bridge, but as a resident I do not see where we can get hurt.

If the Bridge Club wants to use the Community Center, they need to reserve a space, just like all citizens of Palm Coast. If they want a permanent facility, then they need to buy some land and build one.